- September 27, 2024
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Irma. Alexis. Laura. Melissa. Lourdes.
Say their names.
These teachers took the time to speak publicly last week to the school board about the violence and abuse they continually suffer from their students. They said they were speaking on behalf of countless others in Volusia County schools who are dealing with similar conditions.
When it was the board members’ turn to speak, all five commented about threats to shoot up a school. Only two referred to the teachers’ concerns, with no solution offered, beyond the need for documentation before action can be taken.
In other words, the bureaucracy decides, the situation remains, and nothing changes.
Irma has been a VCS teacher for 25 years. Paraphrasing and in part, she said that "while you’re sitting here worried about test scores, [we’re] worried about more. This is not what I signed up for. This kid hits me, kicks me, and verbally abuses me...most times, administrators bring them right back. The trauma affects the other students, my home, and my life. Are you going to sit there and do nothing, like the other parents do? If we let this continue, it could mean a life.[Emphasis added.] Judge me or don’t support me. I won’t be a victim anymore."
Alexis is a 25-year-old 4th grade teacher. She said the new requirements, documentation, and responsibilities make her feel like she can never catch up, despite working many hours outside of her contract time.
Further, "add in the severe behaviors we face every day, and suddenly this job becomes overwhelming and unmanageable. On a daily basis, we’re dealing with students destroying our classrooms, hurting their fellow classmates, and even assaulting their teachers. We are told these are classroom-managed behaviors. It feels like there are no consequences or repercussions, and no end to these behaviors...We did not sign up to have our classrooms destroyed, and to be beaten and abused. Neither did the other students...this is unsustainable for my entire career...We are driving away qualified teachers."
Laura is an ESE teacher without support. She said the new documentation system for ESE teachers, recently reported in the News-Journal, isn’t working, and that teachers still have to take 20 minutes out of their teaching time, just to meet documentation requirements.
Melissa teaches kindergarten. She feels like her words to the board fall on deaf ears and that even though she was told she could call the superintendent any time, doing so is “like trying to see the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.” She described the emotional toll on students and teachers when they are constantly moved around, and suggested that there are plenty of district staffers who could get back into the classroom to help.
Lourdes is a first grade teacher with VCS for 22 years. She said that being a teacher is ‘like being in an abusive relationship’, that ‘teachers are abused by students, and abused by parents.’
She then asked, “When did it become okay for students to hit us?” She added that administrators tell teachers what they’re not doing, and that the micromanaging is “disheartening.” She said teachers and support staff continue to take the abuse because they love the kids, “but that still doesn’t make it right.”
Then the agenda went to member comments. Ms. Burnette and Ms. Haynes expressed concern about the teachers’ comments, but ultimately defaulted to the “matrix,” the document that decides what punishment is appropriate for what offense.
Here’s the rub:
Teachers have repeatedly reported that the documentation is so detailed and time-consuming that they try to avoid that step, and tolerate the abusive conditions. When they go to the trouble to do the required documentation, the administration too often tosses it anyway.
In a documentation-driven system, it’s impossible to prove a violation has occurred when the documentation is destroyed.
No documentation = no proof = nothing happened = nothing changes Board members made it clear that their focus is on threats of school shootings that resulted last week in the arrest of several students. Those concerns of course must be addressed and prioritized, but those are not the only threats to school safety.
Failure to address small behavioral offenses leads to acceleration, and that leads to a greater risk of a school shooting. The lack of district and administrator support for teachers makes it impossible for them to secure their classrooms for the majority of students who are respectful and appropriate. It isn’t enough to refer to a “matrix” that was created by the very board that can rewrite it.
Bureaucracy cares more about process than outcomes. That was on full display at the school board meeting.
It’s no wonder we lose teachers, and have trouble recruiting. The board goes through the motions of showing concern, and goes home. That needs to change on November 5.
Donna Brosemer is a candidate running for Volusia County School Board District 4. A former lobbyist, Brosemer has 30 years of experience working in public policy and has served on higher education state boards.
